Posts Tagged ‘sexual incontinence’

Xofigo, a newly approved treatment for advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones, is said to reduce patient pain levels. The drug, which mimics calcium by binding to bone tissue at tumor sites, has been shown to extend patient survival rates by three months. The binding action of Xofigo allows physicians to target the precise location of bone tumors caused by prostate cancer, and minimizes bone damage caused by tumors. It is reported that Xofigo may allow patients to delay chemotherapy and the use of morphine for pain management. A Xofigo treatment can be administered in a few as 15 minutes.

This prostate cancer news is brought to you by UroSciences– makers of the UroStop variable tension penile loop for sexual incontinence and the PDAD Peyronie’s disease assessment device.

The New Mexico Cancer Center has begun offering Xofigo to its prostate cancer patients. Made by Bayer Healthcare, Xofigo, radium -223, has shown promise in recent studies for extending the survival rates of patients with advanced prostate cancer. Xofigo works by mimicking calcium within the body and binding to areas of rapid bone growth caused by bone tumors, thus limiting the damage caused by the tumors. Xofigo, once known as Alpharadin, received marketing approval from the FDA on May 15, 2013.

According to a recent report by NPR, men are increasingly selecting robotic prostate surgery, even when they are diagnosed with low risk, slow-growing prostate cancer and not likely to benefit from the heavily marketed new procedures. The study, published in JAMA, also reports that robotic prostate surgery is even increasing among older men diagnosed with slow-growing prostate cancer, who are much more likely to die of other causes. According to the report, men older than 65 with low risk prostate cancer have a 20% risk of dying from the cancer and a 60% chance of dying from another cause.

In recent years, many groups have urged physicians and patients to ease up on early prostate cancer screenings, because of the risk of unnecessary treatment, including prostate surgery resulting in incontinence, impotence, and climacturia (sexual incontinence experienced by up to half of men undergoing prostate surgery). A doctor quoted in the NPR report suggests less frequent testing for younger, low risk patients as a way to steer clear of the temptation to go ahead with new treatments.

For more urology and prostate cancer news, we invite you to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

According to a recent report by NPR, men are increasingly selecting robotic prostate surgery, even when they are diagnosed with low risk, slow-growing prostate cancer and not likely to benefit from the heavily marketed new procedures. The study, published in JAMA, also reports that robotic prostate surgery is even increasing among older men diagnosed with slow-growing prostate cancer, who are much more likely to die of other causes. According to the report, men older than 65 with low risk prostate cancer have a 20% risk of dying from the cancer and a 60% chance of dying from another cause.

In recent years, many groups have urged physicians and patients to ease up on early prostate cancer screenings, because of the risk of unnecessary treatment, including prostate surgery resulting in incontinence, impotence, and climacturia (sexual incontinence experienced by up to half of men undergoing prostate surgery). A doctor quoted in the NPR report suggests less frequent testing for younger, low risk patients as a way to steer clear of the temptation to go ahead with new treatments.

For more urology and prostate cancer news, we invite you to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

After a prostate cancer diagnosis and radical prostatectomy, some couples may wonder if their sex life will ever return to what it once was. Although sex after prostate surgery may present unique challenges, fortunately, many couples are able to resume satisfying and enjoyable intimate relationships.

If you or someone you love has or will have radical prostatectomy, here are a few ways to prepare for sex after surgery.

Understand the Possibilities

Although nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy has improved the quality of sex after prostate surgery, the possible sexual changes after surgery are often not adequately discussed, including erectile dysfunction, climacturia, and urine leaking during sex. The younger a patient is at the time of surgery, the less likely he is to be affected by sexual dysfunction after surgery. Regardless of age, understanding the challenges you may encounter will help you be more prepared for and less intimidated by them.

Treatment Options for ED

Erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery can be treated in a number of ways, depending on what is best for your situation. There are more ED treatment options available today than ever before, including penile injections, implants, and oral medications.

Preventing Climacturia

Climacturia, or leaking urine during orgasm, is often prevented by the use of a variable tension penile loop, a soft silicone tube placed around the penis and adjusted to provide comfortable pressure on the urethra to physically prevent leaking urine during sex. UroSciences offers the UroStop™, a penile loop specifically designed to reduce the frequency, amount of leakage, and distress associate with climacturia or experiencing a urine leak during sex.

A Note on Patience

Restoring active and satisfying intimate relationships after prostate cancer requires a considerable amount of time. While some may attempt intercourse with the aid of prescription medication in the early months, it is common for erectile dysfunction and sexual incontinence to persist throughout the first couple of years after prostate surgery.

After a prostate cancer diagnosis and radical prostatectomy, some couples may wonder if their sex life will ever return to what it once was. Although sex after prostate surgery may present unique challenges, fortunately, many couples are able to resume satisfying and enjoyable intimate relationships.

If you or someone you love has or will have radical prostatectomy, here are a few ways to prepare for sex after surgery.

Understand the Possibilities

Although nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy has improved the quality of sex after prostate surgery, the possible sexual changes after surgery are often not adequately discussed, including erectile dysfunction, climacturia, and urine leaking during sex. The younger a patient is at the time of surgery, the less likely he is to be affected by sexual dysfunction after surgery. Regardless of age, understanding the challenges you may encounter will help you be more prepared for and less intimidated by them.

Treatment Options for ED

Erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery can be treated in a number of ways, depending on what is best for your situation. There are more ED treatment options available today than ever before, including penile injections, implants, and oral medications.

Preventing Climacturia

Climacturia, or leaking urine during orgasm, is often prevented by the use of a variable tension penile loop, a soft silicone tube placed around the penis and adjusted to provide comfortable pressure on the urethra to physically prevent leaking urine during sex. UroSciences offers the UroStop™, a penile loop specifically designed to reduce the frequency, amount of leakage, and distress associate with climacturia or experiencing a urine leak during sex.

A Note on Patience

Restoring active and satisfying intimate relationships after prostate cancer requires a considerable amount of time. While some may attempt intercourse with the aid of prescription medication in the early months, it is common for erectile dysfunction and sexual incontinence to persist throughout the first couple of years after prostate surgery.

For approximately half of radical prostatectomy patients and their partners, sexual incontinence or urine leakage during orgasm is an unexpected side effect and yet another obstacle to overcome after a prostate cancer diagnosis and surgery. As a little talked about result of radical prostatectomy, many patients feel they are uninformed as to how to manage climacturia.

As one of the most common methods of controlling sexual incontinence, a variable tension penile loop can prevent urine leakage during sex and, as a result, reduce the amount of distress experienced by the patient and his partner.

What is a Variable Tension Penile Loop?

Simply stated, a variable tension penile loop is a soft silicone loop to place around the penis during sexual activity. The loop is adjustable to both provide the level of pressure needed, and increase the comfort of the wearer.

How Does a Penile Loop Work for Urine Leakage?

When placed around the penis before sexual activity with the correct amount of tension (adjusted by the wearer), a variable tension penile loop compresses the urethra, the pathway through which urine flows, to prevent urine from escaping during sex and orgasm. As an added benefit of controlling climacturia, men achieve greater sexual satisfaction and reduced distress.

Purchase a Variable Tension Penile Loop

UroSciences offers UroStop™, the first variable tension penile loop specifically designed for and proven to reduce sexual incontinence and associated stress. Read more about the UroStop™ variable tension penile loop.

According to a recent report by NPR, men previously diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer who replace 10% of their daily carbohydrate intake with vegetable fats such as olive oil and nuts are less likely to develop life threatening metastasized prostate cancer– the type of cancer that spreads from the prostate to other areas of the body.

Over an eight-year follow up period, men who replaced 10 percent of their daily carbs with vegetable fats, olive and canola oils, demonstrated a 29-percent reduced rate of developing metastasized prostate cancer and a 26 percent reduced risk of death. And, a daily handful of nuts, just an ounce, reduced the risk of developing metastatic prostate cancer by 18 percent.

Since it is not clear if the benefits to patients were directly related to an increase of vegetable fats, or simply the overall reduction of carbs in the diet, future studies will be performed. Carbohydrates are known to produce inflammation within the body, which is a contributing factor to the spread of cancer.

Surgical removal of the prostate, also known as radical prostatectomy, is a medical procedure performed to remove and control prostate cancer. For many men, approximately half of those who undergo radical prostatectomy, urinary incontinence during sex presents a difficult to approach, and sometimes embarrassing problem.

If you or your partner experience urine leakage during sex or urinary incontinence during orgasm, also known as climacturia, due to prostate surgery, it is important to know that the condition is manageable. Below, we have outlined suggestions for managing sexual incontinence.

UroStop

The first device of its kind, UroStop is a soft, silicone variable tension penile loop designed to interrupt the flow of urine through the urethra. By placing the latex-free UroStop over the penis prior to sexual activity, and then adjusting the tension to a comfortable level, the wearer is able to prevent urinary incontinence during sex.

Voiding the Bladder

One of the most practical approaches to avoid urinary incontinence during orgasm is to empty the bladder immediately before sexual activity. Simply stated, an empty bladder assures that little or no urine is available at the time when sexual incontinence may occur. For some men, this can prevent, or dramatically reduce the amount of urine leaked.

Avoiding Stimulants

Caffeine and other stimulants can increase both the level of urgency and the frequency of urination. Avoiding food and drinks containing caffeine may help some men suffering from sexual incontinence by reducing the need for urination.

Condom Use

For sexual incontinence after radical prostatectomy, the use of a condom may help contain small amounts of urinary incontinence during sex. Although a condom does not prevent sexual incontinence, using one may prevent urine from coming into contact with the partner.

Surgical removal of the prostate, also known as radical prostatectomy, is a medical procedure performed to remove and control prostate cancer. For many men, approximately half of those who undergo radical prostatectomy, urinary incontinence during sex presents a difficult to approach, and sometimes embarrassing problem.

If you or your partner experience urine leakage during sex or urinary incontinence during orgasm, also known as climacturia, due to prostate surgery, it is important to know that the condition is manageable. Below, we have outlined suggestions for managing sexual incontinence.

UroStop

The first device of its kind, UroStop is a soft, silicone variable tension penile loop designed to interrupt the flow of urine through the urethra. By placing the latex-free UroStop over the penis prior to sexual activity, and then adjusting the tension to a comfortable level, the wearer is able to prevent urinary incontinence during sex.

Voiding the Bladder

One of the most practical approaches to avoid urinary incontinence during orgasm is to empty the bladder immediately before sexual activity. Simply stated, an empty bladder assures that little or no urine is available at the time when sexual incontinence may occur. For some men, this can prevent, or dramatically reduce the amount of urine leaked.

Avoiding Stimulants

Caffeine and other stimulants can increase both the level of urgency and the frequency of urination. Avoiding food and drinks containing caffeine may help some men suffering from sexual incontinence by reducing the need for urination.

Condom Use

For sexual incontinence after radical prostatectomy, the use of a condom may help contain small amounts of urinary incontinence during sex. Although a condom does not prevent sexual incontinence, using one may prevent urine from coming into contact with the partner.